Chapter 11 – the truth

Sam, Callen, Deeks and Kensi is standing in cover behind the car doors. There are two ambulances arrived at the scene. The agents are watching while Nell and Eric jump through the lasers. As soon as they are landed there is smoke coming out of the building. the paramedics along with the four agents runs over to Nell and Eric. Nell is unconscious. She landed on her back and Eric landed face down on the left side of her body. He is conscious but he is coughs a lot. Two of the paramedics put on an oxygen mask on Eric and gets him off Nell. He is able to walk on his own despite his injuries. Kensi runs straight to Nell.

"Nell…" Kensi screams. Nell is knocked out. Kensi kneel down nest to Nell and takes Nells hand.

"Agent you have to get away from her." The paramedic orders her. They get into the ambulances where they start treading her. shortly after she starts to wake up. Kensi is sitting next to her in the ambulances. As soon as Nell starts to wake up Kensi takes her hand.

"it's over Nell."

Nell tries to take of the oxygen mask.

"Nell don't." Kensi removes her hand from the mask. "Eric is in another ambulance. He is awake. He is okay." Kensi holds her hand for comfort.

In another ambulance Eric is being treated while Sam and Callen is standing outside.

"okay. Thanks Hetty." Callen hangs up on his phone. "it's over. Local PD arrested Ira Wells girlfriend and the rest of the gang 10 minutes ago." Sam nods. Then he looks at Eric in the ambulances.

"it's over Eric."

2 hours later in ops Eric and Nell comes into the office along with Kensi, Deeks, Callen and Sam. They are meet by Hetty and Nate.

"it is good to have you two back." Hetty says.

"it is good to be back." Eric says and look around in the office."

"hmm… Hetty…" Nell says. "I'm sorry I disobeyed your order. I understand if I have lost my change of becoming an agent."

Everyone look at Nell and then at Hetty.

"Hetty she…" Kensi starts. Hetty holds a hand up to make Kensi be quiet.

"Miss Jones…" Hetty starts very formal like she is about to give a lesson to her team. "indead you disobeyed my order. My direct order." Nell look down a little ashamed. Eric takes an arm around her and holds her into him. She doesn't object.

"but Miss Jones… you have also shown that you can handle very difficult situations in the field. Indeed, in a very unit way…" everyone smiles at that.

"yeah…" nell says.

"but Miss Jones the way you handled the situation today is what will make you a great agent one day."

Nell look very surprised at Hetty.

"thank you Hetty." She looks around at the team.

"way to go sis." Kensi says with a big smile.

"I know I have a lot to learn before I can keep up with guys like you and… maybe I never will be able to."

"Miss Jones. Do you remember last time you and I had a talk about you want to became an agent? I told you about the Van Winkle family?" everyone looks confused at Hetty and then at Nell. Nell nods.

"I need to do things my own way because I am not big like Sam or overwhelming athletic like Callen or a great sniper like Kensi or have super-fast reflexes like Deeks."

"indeed you don't." Hetty look at Nell and then at the rest of the team.

"Nell, if you have been the size of Sam today. You would not have been able to infiltrate that building the way you did. You where came and fast thinking the way you handled the laser and the disarmed the bomb. You might not be as fast as Mr. Callen or Mr. Deeks but you have some skills that they don't." Nate says. Nell look up at Nate with a smile.

"thanks Nate."

"you will get your change to become an Agent, Miss Jones."

Nell nods. "thanks Hetty but for now…" she looks up at Eric with a smile and then lean her head against his shoulder. "I think I stay in ops with my partner."

Sam, Callen, Deeks and Kensi look confused.

"does that mean that Eric is back in ops?" Deeks asks.

"you really think that I would be a permanent replacement for Eric?" Nate asks.

Everyone starts laughing.

"you were a good partner Nate, but I'm glad I have my real partner back."

Hetty walks over to her office and takes out a bottle of scotch.

"my treat for my team." She says.

"ohh year." Sam rush to open the bottle. When they all have a glass they look at each other.

"to the team." Hetty says.

"to partners." Callen says. Everyone's agrees and they all cheers.

"so Eric how was your time in the real world?" Sam asks.

"well undercover work isn't my thing. I prefer the comfort of ops."

Nell look surprised at Eric.

"what do you mean with undercover work?"

"Mr. Beale informed be a month ago that his former friend was planning on something. Dr. Gatz and I had a talk with Mr. Beale about going in undercover to discover more specific what was going on. when Mr. Beal found out that Nell was the target, we made a decision that Mr. Beal quit NCIS to work for Zero days to uncover their plans." Hetty informs.

Sam and Callen look impressed at Eric.

"good job Eric."
"year it just wasn't part of the plan to get kidnapped."

Sam and Callen smiles.

"hey it happens." Sam says and gives him a pad on the shoulder.

"so this whole thing with you and Nell getting into an argument was just part of the cover?" Deeks asks.

Nell try not to sound upset. "I guess so." She says.

"so Nell you were in on this?" Kensi asks.

"no I wasn't." Nell take a sip of her drink. She walks away from Eric who still had his arm around her. she walks over to Kensi. There is a little awkward mood now. Shortly after assistant director Granger comes in.

"Owen… come have a drink with us." Granger walks up to Hettys office. Sam hands him a drink. Then he looks over at Nell.

"Henrietta I think you need to start having a dress code in ops."

Everyone look at Nell with a smile. She is still only wearing her sports bra and the leggings.

"I apologize assistant director. It was an emergency in the field. I promise not to show up for work like this." Nell says with a little smile.

"could you go put some clothing on now miss Jones?" granger asks. Nell nods and is about to leave the office when Deeks takes of his gray cardigan and puts it on her. she looks up at Deeks.

"thanks."

Eric takes a sip of his drink. There is quiet for a moment.

"anyone knows what the real plan for Ira was? I mean kidnapping his friend doesn't sound like a small disagreement."

"he wanted me to come work for Zero Days las time we worked together, but I said no. I want to stay in ops." Eric explains.

"so why kidnap you if he thought you had left OPS to work for him?" Sam asks.

"because Eric wasn't the real target." Nate says. Everyone looks at Nate. Nate continues. "according to my profile of Ira Wells he is a person who can't take no for an answer…"

"like if I can't have you nobody can?" Deeks asks. Nate nods.

"Exactly. Besides this wasn't about a date. This was about his best friend since high school probably his only friend…" Eric nods in agree. Nate continues. "when Eric turned down the job offer few years ago Ira saw that as a rejection. but I didn't blame Eric. He blamed the person he saw as a threat to their friendship… Nell."

Nell look surprised. "what did I do?"

"nothing." Nate says. Everyone is confused. "to Ira your friendship with Eric is a threat to his friendship with Eric and because Eris choose to work with you instead of him. He blames you."

Nell nods.

"so why still kidnap Eric after he left ops and in Iras eyes… Nell." Kensi asks. "I mean he got what he wanted."

Nate nods.

"yes and no." everyone is confused. "he wants but I think he realized that he could still loose."

"how? His cover wasn't blown." Hetty says.

"that is right." Nate takes a sip of his drink. "I have been looking at your computer over the past few days Eric. And I'm pretty sure the picture you have on your work computer wallpaper is the same as your personal computer right?"

Everyone look confused.

"yes." Eric sounds a little insecure about where this is going.

"what is so special about that?" Callen asks.

"it's a picture of you and Nell right?" Nate asks.

"yes so… we are just friends. I had that picture for a long time." Eric starts to sound a little defensive.

"I don't question you Eric… or Nell. But when Ira saw that picture… he saw that Nell was still a threat. That is why he kidnapped you."

"because he that Nell would still come looking for him?" Kensi says. Nate nods.

"I did exactly what they want me to do." Nell sounds a little ashamed of herself. Nate nods.

"but you couldn't have known that, Nell." Nate takes Nell in to a hug.

"I just don't understand why he hurt Eric to get Nell's attention." Kensi says.

"they properly had a different plan at first." Nate says and look over at Eric.

"Eric did they ask you to come to a party or something where they asked you to bring a date or something?" Nate asks.

"yeah Ira invited me to high school reunion. It was yesterday. He asked me if I asked Nell to come with me. I thought it was just so he could hit on her like he did last time."
Nate nods.

"it was properly a trap to get rid of Nell. When you didn't want to do that they switch to plan B. kidnap you to lure Nell out to save you."

Deeks starts laughing. "wait a second buddy. You got kidnapped and tortured instead of going on a date with Nell. That is quit a statement there, buddy." Deeks says. Everyone starts laughing a little. Eric doesn't find it funny. Even Nell gives Eric a little smile.

"that was not… I knew they were after Nell." Eric sound very defensive.

"we get it Eric. You tried to protect your partner." Sam says and gives him a pad on the shoulder. Eric look over at Nell who is leaning against Nate.

"okay Nell and Eric you two should go home get some rest."

Nell nods.

"okay." Nell seems a little dizzy when she tried to walk she almost fall.

"wow hey. You okay." Eric catches her.

"I'm fine."

"miss Jones. You have a concussion." Hetty says.

"Nell, you have got a concussion when you and Eric jumped out of that building. Eric landed on you so because of gravity you broke a couple of ribs and you right clavicle. You need help for the next few days." Kensi says very insistent.

"I'm fine Kens." Nell sound.

"let's get you home partner." Eric says and helps Nell out. The rest of the team look after them.

"you guys think Eric is ever going to make it home tonight?" Sam says with a big smile.

"at least she knows where her partner is then." Callen says.